Team Sillakh is Ready: Jean Pascal, He Needs To Step Up

By Rick Reeno

Ivaylo Gotzev, manager of undefeated light heavyweight prospect Ismayl Sillakh (17-0, 14KOs), advised BoxingScene.com that negotiations are ongoing to finalize a fight with former WBC champion Jean Pascal (26-2-1, 16KOs). At last December's WBC convention in Las Vegas, the sanctioning body ordered Sillakh and Pascal to face each other for the mandatory postion. The winner would challenge the victor of the Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson rematch, which is scheduled for April 28th in Atlantic City. Showtime is interested in televising Pascal-Sillakh.

"At this point, at least there is something postive that's happening. We had a conversation with Pascal's promoter [Yvon Michel]. He expressed interest in the fight. This should be a fight that the networks should be fighting over. They would get a glimpse at a future star in this sport. Sillakh is no longer flying under the radar, he's been detected as an up and coming superstar. We've been patient through these negotiations. When the WBC first ordered the tournament [to set a mandatory], everyone bolted. Then this came up in December. The time has come for Pascal to step up," Gotzev told BoxingScene.com.

Who's going to want to fight Sillakh? A super tough fight for any LHW, and a guaranteed future titleholder, who, at this stage, is not much of a draw. Very high risk/low reward. I hope someone has the balls to…